Makerere University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, has underscored a significant shortage of universities and higher education institutions in Uganda.
With a population of nearly 50 million people, Nawangwe emphasized that the country is inadequately served in terms of tertiary education.
Out of approximately 60 universities in Uganda, 40 are privately owned, 12 are public, 5 are military institutions, and 3 are recognized as degree-awarding bodies.
However, Nawangwe highlighted that more than half of these establishments “do not qualify to be called universities.” Many of these institutions have a student population of 1000 or less, which falls short of the criteria for a university, according to Nawangwe.
He pointed out that there are roughly 20 legitimate universities in Uganda, collectively enrolling around 100,000 students.
Nawangwe argued for the establishment of more universities in Uganda to accommodate the rapidly growing population. Comparing Uganda to the United Kingdom, where there are over 300 universities serving a slightly higher population, Nawangwe emphasized the need for the government to prioritize tertiary education.
He highlighted the disparity in educational attainment, noting that while 80% of adults in Sweden have a university education, in Uganda, it stands at a mere 6%, one of the lowest rates in Africa.
